He leans down and takes my face in his hands and kisses me, and I feel my knees weaken underneath me. “How did my girl sleep?” He takes my hand in his and takes my suitcase from me.
“Fine, thanks.”
“Can we get a civilized lift to work today?” he asks.
I glance over and see Alan and the limo parked at the curb across the street. “Um.” I frown. “You go with Alan. I want to catch the bus.”
He raises an eyebrow as if unimpressed. “Okay, bus it is.”
“You don’t have to walk me to work, Jameson. I’m quite capable of getting myself there.”
“I know; I just want to spend the twenty minutes with you. I’m not seeing you all weekend, remember?” He gives me a sexy wink, and my stomach does a nervous flip. We walk to the bus stop hand in hand.
“Have you heard anything more about Lara Aspin and Hayden?”
“No. They’ve been charged, but the court case won’t be for a while. I can’t believe you solved it. You don’t know how grateful I am to you.”
I smile, feeling proud of myself.
“How do you like your new job?” he asks.
I shrug. “It’s great.”
His eyes hold mine. “Great as in ‘really great,’ or great as in ‘it will do’?”
“Great as in ‘I’m getting used to it.’”
“Why don’t you come back to Miles Media?”
“No. I’ll be keeping our work lives separate from now on.”
“Hmm.” He frowns, unimpressed. “We’ll see.”
The bus arrives, and we make our way on. It’s crowded today, and I find a seat, but Jameson has to stand. He’s squashed between a smelly man and a woman who looks like she has rabies. I sit and watch him and the horror on his face as he watches the people around him. I have to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing. Eventually the bus pulls to our stop, and he gets off in a rush.
“That’s it,” he scoffs as he brushes his suit off like the snob that he is. “No more fucking buses. We need to be disinfected right now. Did you see the people on that fucking bus?”
I giggle. “That was just a bad trip.”
“I mean it, Emily,” he snaps. “No more fucking buses. Alan is now your driver. Over my dead body are we catching another bus.”
“Yes, boss.” I smile as he takes my hand in his, and we begin our walk to work.
“What time does your flight leave tonight?” he asks.
“Three.”
His face falls. “You’re going early?”
“Yes. I have a half day today.”
“I was going to take you to the airport.” He frowns as he stares down at me. “I have a board meeting at four; I can’t get out of it.”
“That’s fine.”
“Shit . . . maybe I can cancel?”
“Jameson, it’s fine. You are not canceling a meeting to take me to the airport. Stop it. You will see me when you see me.”
He stares at me as he processes my words. “Alan will collect you.”
I nod, knowing that if I don’t agree, he will in fact cancel his meeting. “Okay.”
We arrive at my work, and he turns me toward him. “You’ll call me the minute you land?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I’ll call you before I go to bed.”
He stares at me.
“What are you doing this weekend?” I ask.
“My brothers are all going to Vegas tonight.”
“Are you?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“They’re chasing booze and wild women.”
My face falls.
He wraps his arms around me. “I already have my wild woman; I’m not interested in what they are looking for.”
I smile up at him, surprisingly grateful that he’s not going.
“Will you miss me?” he whispers.
“Probably not.”
“You probably could try and be flirtier in our conversations, you know?”
“Could I?” Our lips touch, and he kisses me softly.
“Are you sure you have to go?” he murmurs against my lips.
“Yes, Jameson.”
“I love you,” he whispers.
My heart somersaults in my chest at hearing those precious words. “Have a nice day.”
“That’s not what I wanted to hear.”
“But that’s all you’re getting.” I kiss him quickly and pull out of his arms. “Please stop pressuring me. I’ll call you tonight.”
He puts his two hands into his suit pockets and smiles sexily as he watches me walk into the building.
I get into the elevator with a hammering heart and flushed cheeks.
Why is he so damn gorgeous?
I walk out of work just after one o’clock and see the limo and Alan standing beside it. He smiles warmly and opens the back door as if gesturing for me to get in. I smile and make my way over to him. I haven’t heard from Jameson all day and wasn’t sure if Alan was in fact coming to collect me. “Hello.”
He smiles warmly. “Hello, Emily. It’s so lovely to see you.”
I get into the back of the limo and find a lone red rose on the back seat, waiting for me.
Oh.
I smile and inhale it deeply; a beautiful perfume fills the space. The car pulls out from the curb, and I get a vision of myself stomping on the yellow roses the other night. Maniac.
I was half hoping that Jameson would be in the car waiting for me. Should I even be going away right now? Isn’t sorting this out with him more important?
No.
You had these plans before he decided to waltz back in . . . stick to them.
I should call and thank him, though. I dial his number.
“Hello,” his sexy voice purrs down the line.
My stomach flutters at the sound of his voice. “Hi,” I breathe.
“Are you with Alan?”
“I am. Thank you for my rose.”
“So red is better?”
“Seems that way.” I feel my face blush in embarrassment.
“Mental note to never buy anything yellow ever again.”
I giggle, embarrassed.
“You have a good weekend,” he eventually replies.
“You too.”
“I’m not going to call you this weekend.”
“Why not?” I ask.
“Your words are playing on my mind.”
“What words?”
“You told me not to force this between us.”
I listen.
“I’m stepping back.”
My heart drops. “You’re giving up?”
“No. Just the opposite; I’m making plans for our future. But I understand that you need time. Me forcing you to forgive me before you’re ready may not be the smartest move.”
I smile softly as I listen, hope blooming in my chest.
“You just call me whenever you want to speak to me,” he says.
“Okay.”
“And that could be fifty times a day. I’ll be waiting for your call like a lovesick schoolboy.”
I smile as I hang on the line . . . I really do want to see him this weekend.
No.
“Okay.”
“Goodbye, Emily.”
“Goodbye,” I whisper. I hang up, smell my rose, and smile sadly out the window as New York flies by. I feel like I’m in a subspace. Caught between two men, each with their own memory—one of Jameson Miles’s coldhearted dismissal and the other of playful Jim’s overwhelming love. Each time I feel myself leaning toward one, the other jumps in my way. I’m not sure how to turn this off, but I need to work it out . . . and sooner rather than later.
Half an hour later the limo pulls up at the airport, and Alan opens my door. I clutch my rose in my hand, knowing that I can’t take it in.
Alan retrieves my bag from the trunk. “Would you like me to carry this in for you?” he asks.
“No, thank you.” I look down at my rose. I feel strangely attached to it and can’t stand the thought of it dying. “Would you be able to put the rose in some water for me, please?” I ask him.
He smiles warmly. “Of course.” He takes it from me. “I’ll put it in water at Mr. Miles’s apartment for you.”
“Thank you.” I shrug, suddenly feeling stupid. “Goodbye, Alan.”
“I’ll see you on Sunday when we pick you up.”
“Okay.” With a meek wave, I make my way to the check-in desk, and surprisingly there’s no line today. “Hello. I have a booking for Emily Foster.” I slide my license across the desk to the check-in clerk.
“Hello.” She types my name into her computer. “Ah yes, Ms. Foster. I see you have amended your booking to first class.”
I frown. “No.”
She rechecks the details. “Yes, your two tickets were upgraded late last night.”
“Two tickets?”
“Yes, a second was booked, and then they were both upgraded.”
Jameson.
“Oh, I see. Okay, thank you.” I collect my ticket and walk through security and make my way to the bar. I have nearly two hours before my flight leaves.
“What will it be?” the bartender asks as I take a seat.
“A margarita, please.”
I text Jameson.
Mr Miles, thank you for the upgrade.
It is very much appreciated.
Tell me, was the second seat for you or to make sure I didn’t sit next to someone else?
My drink is delivered, and a text bounces back.
My dear Miss Foster, I am outraged that you would think I could be so calculating.
Of course, I don’t want you sitting next to anyone else.
I know how irresistible you are.
xoxox
I smile as I sip my drink, and another text arrives.
Although, if I wasn’t playing hard to get and being non-pushy. I would have taken you on the company jet and initiated you to the real Miles High Club.
You wouldn’t walk for a week.
Enjoy the peaceful silence.
xoxox
I roll my lips to hide my smile, and I text back.
Goodbye Jameson.
Glad that your deviant behavior is still alive and well.
I was getting worried.
xoxoxo
A text comes straight in.
You have no idea.
And no watching Magic Mike, watch Grumpy Old Men instead.
It will make me more appealing.
xoxox
I sip my drink and find myself smiling goofily into space.
Things are going well . . . for the first time in a long time, I feel myself become a little excited for what’s to come.
Let’s see what happens.
I stare at the ceiling in the darkness from my bed. It’s midnight. My old bedroom brings a surprising comfort that I didn’t know I needed.
It’s great being here with my family, but New York seems so very far away.
I didn’t call Jameson like I said I would; in fact I haven’t spoken to him all night.